Significant Recovery Secured in Products Liability Case Involving Airbag Failure and Post-Crash Fire

Stephen Raynes, Bernie Smalley & Dan Bencivenga secured justice for a client who suffered catastrophic injuries in a complex products liability/automobile crashworthiness case arising from an auto accident. In Fall 2020, our client, then 61 years old, was a front-seat passenger when the vehicle she was riding in was involved in a severe frontal collision. The passenger airbag failed to deploy and the car also caught fire due to a post-crash, fuel-fed blaze. Our client sustained extensive burns to her face, a traumatic brain injury, and multiple head and orthopedic injuries, which left her permanently disfigured, disabled, and in constant pain. Once independent, she now requires full-time care and lives with her sister. She also suffers from PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The crash and its consequences were the result of critical design defects in the vehicle’s fuel system and airbag system. After discovery was complete, and with a trial date approaching, the international automobile manufacturer agreed to pay a significant settlement which will help make our client’s life more comfortable, and give her and her family the peace of mind that her future is secure.